Tuesday, April 16, 2013

[Linkage] N is for Nom de Plume

Note: My A-Z theme is linkage. Every day (at 7:00 a.m. EST), I'm going to list three helpful industry links per letter, and then I'll ask for suggestions in the comments—that way, we can pool our resources! :)

I may have to use one at some point because my writing styles vary from m/g fantasy to EDGY Y/A . I also have an adult Film noir novella started. SO I may have to have a different name for the adult work.

Congrats on the interview!!!!!!! I vacillated on the name thing. I wanted my fictional writing to be separate from my academic stuff, so came to a compromise. I kind of used my real name, but not quite. Now I'm not sure it mattered that I keep my two worlds apart.

Hi, Carrie, I'll be stalking your posts going back. Good theme and useful links. I should go read Rachel's article. I wish I hadn't gone that route with one of my books 'cause now it's out there like an orphan child who doesn't get much attention.

I picked a pen name since my real name is so hard to spell. But I picked it for another reason, to honor my mother-in-law, Lynn. She died from cancer. So I get to see her name out there with all my books!! :)

I do use a pen name, largely because I've a very common name and also share it with several authors already. No point muddying the water there any further.The other reason is, with Aldrea Alien, I'm the first thing to pop up in a google search.

I've been using my pen name for 20 years this May. Had I been older than 13, I definitely would've chosen something more distinctive and in line with my classical eccentric/classical unusual naming tastes, like Persephone, Octavia. Rowena, or Xanthe. But I've really grown into my pseudonym, and couldn't imagine using any other. At the time, I just didn't like my dull as dirt real name (the most common female name in history, across most cultures, after only Mary), and wanted a name from a song. I was just getting into oldies and classic rock at the time, and so had a very limited pool. It was dumb luck that I ended up with a name from a Hollies' song, since they're still one of my favorite bands 20 years later. Brown came from the Herman's Hermits song, and two years later, I added -ian to the end after I became an Armenophile. I guess I figured that if I used a real Armenian name, like Arshagunian or Zouranjian, I might be accused of misrepresenting myself and cultural appropriation.

Interesting discussion... I have a last name that is quite well known in the UK where I am asked, "is that one 'p' or two?" However the same name appears to present difficulties in the US, where I get, "Ble...Ble...Ble... can you spell that please?" Still considering what to do! www.hjblenkinsop.co.uk